12/23/2005 Archived Entry: "45th Cuban National League: "Meet the Teams and Its Players in Group 1"

45th Cuban National League: Meet the Teams and Its Players in Group 1 by Cubano

WEST LEAGUE GROUP 1

Team: PINAR DEL RIO CIGAR MAKERS (8 CUBAN NATIONAL LEAGUE TITLES)

Pinar del Rio is the most western province in Cuba. It is where the best cigar in the world are made. Many Cuban great have played for the Cigar Makers. 3B Omar Linares and now the Physical Instructor played for them. RF Luis Giraldo Casanova, "Mr. Baseball" and 2B Yobal Duenas played for them too. Other notable players who have played there are Pitcher Rogelio Garcia who used to own one of the best forkballs in Cuban history; Cuban defectors Chicago White Sox Jose Contreras; Tampa Bay Danys Baez; New York Mets Alain Soler. Cuban prospect Juan Miguel Miranda also played for them and is now in the Dominican Republic waiting to sign a contract.

Birth Place: Pinar del Rio, Pinar del RioAge: 23 Height: 1´86Weight: 76 kgHit: RightThrow: RightPosition: Infield and Outfield Series: 4International Tournaments: 2004 Athens Olympics, IBAF World Cup Regional Qualifying Tournament Colombia 2004Nickname: El Pirineo Scouting Report: He is tall and hit the ball with authority. He needs to add a few pounds to increase his power. He has good speed. He is one of the most complete players in Cuba. During 2002-03 Cuban National series, he led the Cuban league in hits from wire to wire.

Raidel Hernández Peña

Birth Place: Pinar del Rio, Pinar del RioAge: 21 yearsHeight: 1´85Weight: 90 kgHit: RightThrow: RightPosition: OutfieldSeries: 2Scouting Report: Raidel Hernández is considered one of the most talented young Cuban players. He is strong and has great power. He possesses astrong throwing arm.

Vladimir Baños Chacón

Birth Place: Pinar del Rio, Pinar del RioAge: 21 Height: 1´85Weight: 70 kgHit: RightThrow: RightPosition: PitcherSeries: 2Baños has excellent physical abilitis. He has a good fastball and several breaking pitches. He also has good Control.

Irandy Castro Izquierdo

Birth Place: San Juan y Martínez, Pinar del RíoAge: 22 Height: 1´75Weight: 75 kgHit: LeftThrow: LeftPosition: PitcherSeries: 2Scouting Report: Irandy ended his rookie season with 3.45 ERA and a 3-2. He is one of the best young pitching prospects in Cuba.

Birth Place: Pinar del RíoAge: 25 Height: 1´79Weight: 73 kgHit: RightThrow: RightPosition: SSSeries: 5Internacional Events: 2002 Canada Challenger TournamentScouting Report: Onel is one of the best Cuban Short Stops. He is a gold glove SS. He has improved his hitting lately. He hits short line drives.

Age: 31 Height: 1´90Weigh: 107 kgThrow: RightPosition: PitcherNickname: El Rascacielos Pinareño/ the Pinar del Rio SkysCraperSeasons: 12International Events: 1991 Junior World Cup, 1995 Pana-American Games in Mar del Plata, 1995 World University Games in Fukuoka, 1995 Intercontinental Cup in Habana, 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games 1996, 1997 Intercontinental Cup in Barcelona, 1998 World Cup in Italy, 1998 Centro-American Games in Maracaibo, 1999 Pana-American Games in Winnipeg, 2000 Sydney Olympics, 2001 World Cup in China Taipei, 2002 Challenge Tournament in Canada, 2002 Intercontinental Cup in Cuba, 2003 World Cup in Cuba, 2003 Preolympic Qualifying Tournament in Panama, 2004 Athens Olympics.Scouting report: He is one Cuba’s best pitchers ever. He can start and close games. He owns a 96 o 97 mph fastball that he combines with his sliders. He uses different arm angles. He won 18 consecutive games against the Industriales Lions from 1996- 2000. In the Cuban National league postseason, Lazo has 22 playoff victories the most by any pitcher.

Faustino Corrales Denis

Birth Place: Mantua, Pinar del RíoAge: 38Height: 1´85Weight: 97 kgThrow: LeftPosition: PitcherInternacional Events: 1994 Nicaragua World Cup, 1999 Winnipeg Pana-American GamesScouting Report: He is among the best Cuban lefties of all time. He is a strikeout pitcher. His velocity has dropped a bit from his best years. He still has one of the best curve ball in the game. He is the all time Cuban leader in walks. He is the second all time in strikeouts.

Team: MATANZA COCODRILES (5 CHAMPIONSHIPS) Teams from this province have won 5 championships. Henequeneros and Citricultores were teams that represented Matanzas in the past.

Matanzas has the best seaside resort area in Cuba. It is home of Varadero beach. Matanzas hosted the first baseball game ever played in Cuba. This first official game took place on December 27, 1874, at the Palmar del Junco, in Pueblo Nuevo, Matanzas. In that game, Club Habana defeated Club Matanzas 51 to 9 in 9 innings.